The Opelousas courier., 1887-12-03
yeents, but when his mother arrived all that
was left Of thu brilliant Ynung oficac Mas q

All D-attended the young flcef S1uneral.
Speeches were made over his grave, and O
general feeling of indignation was aroused
against M, de Merville, who was arrested. 1t
was rumored that unfair play had been en-
ployed in the use Of the weapons, ard that
the affair must be strictly Investigated.
The tragedy was the subject of all CONVEX
sation, and the newspapers were filled with
more or less accurate details. Much specula-
ton was made as to who was the girl with NJ.
de Melville that night.
OF course, everybody concluded it was his
mistress, for his character was too well
known TO leave any doubt about it.
Some said it was a married woman, others
8 young girl of good family, etc.
The news OF the drama reached the Jenne-
quins, but though Caroline understood it
for she had been bribed by M. de Merville to
she. held her tongue for fear of being mixed
up in the affair. and the vile role she had
played discovered.
The summer before he had often gone to
the sea TO recruit his strength, worn out by
dissipation. He had noticed directly the
fisher girl, Madeleine, and had asked leave
to make a sketch of her. Fer grandparents,
with whom she lived, had seen no harm in it,
| promised, they had allowed her to pose.
He had painted her leaning OF her net on
the yellow sands, with The dashing waves in
the background. The young man soon found
beauty, and long before the picture was
completed had pursued her with his admira-
ton.
But the young girl had given him no en-
-couragemenr, and had shown him plainly
how %repugnant his love was 20 her, Pierre
had been there to defend her, and NJ. de
Mervilie had skunk away before him,
She was strangely moved now at the news,
and thankful that her lover had not fallen a
victim to her pursuer's anger. Yet, as she
had LETT the cafe before the quarrel. she had
| no idea of associating the cavalier with NJ.
| de Meryille, or her W self with the mystic
| rioyrS LIGHT wDrnGn who had hppn his p0IlDaI-
ion.
Everything, too, WAS SO exaggerated that
il was almost impossible for her to lind ont
that she was the heroine of the tragedy, and
that her companion had been no other
than III. de Meryille, the poor young SUBJ
leutenant's assassin,
She said many .actes De grace to the Ste.
Verge thai Pierre had not felt the cold steel,
and followed a neuUatne with the true fer
vency OF her pure heart.
She was as good and industrious as she was
pretty, and, when the tide was favorable, her
supple, graceful figure could be seen tramp
ing over the golden sands, q hcavy net ON her
shoulders, d coarse handkerchief tied over
her head, to prevent the salt water getting
bare, and the curls blown on her forehead:
The other girls who accompanied her
looked clumsy and awkward beside her, but
they were ali healthy and strong, and formed
They would return with dripping petticoats,
and Madeleine then made o charming picture,
her short skirt clinging to her rounded form,
S %efl-f f1s.le sf feet. OF With Tssaf s S@snIn of ea eed
still twined.
After much toll. trouble, end pushing ~pt
the heavy nets, the shrimp-catchers Would
return with their baskets sometimes only
half full, but the .~q1enadas were all put 20
gether, boiled, and sent to the neighboring
market. thus bringing in o few sous.
Madeleine had worked harder than ever
lately. and contrived to save d few francs tc
buy some articles for her tYousseau, and late
at night she sat up working, when her grand
parents were in bed.
One evening, when the tide was low, shf
went to pick up mussels that chung to the
woodwork by the pier. The morrow wal
Friday, and as there had been but little tisl
caught, she knew there would be q good sale
for them in the market.
The purple mussels stuck in masses to thu
stones, and i'll among them seaweed entwined.
binding them together. As they were we
and slippery, Madeleine had taken off .hel
Sa6ots, and her small feet came out as white
as ivory on the dark shells. Some boys wert
fishing cells and others crabs, and the boats IL
the distance were stationary on the calm sea-
quite smooth in the sultry evening.
A happy smile curled Medicines lips ant
showed the dimples round them. 1t wa
easy to see that sweet thoughts were in he
mind.
A little wiry man who was picking his wa.
/ with some trouble to approach her, steppin.
! awkwardly as he did 50, stood watching he
with some admiration for some minutes. :.
: I'm. dc Merville has not bad taste " he sal
) To nn dlpf his arms men was npi reoail cd to , sas baainea
l part of his errand, and seeing nSEchance G
. Ie}chipg her without a brokenggsg or arm
oa He g a2rply vita e h@ ssEil the bright ikam of he
lover in her heart, hastily apprQ&hed, thini
ing that he was asking, as mary stranger
g had lone before, for inforAation. osh
' jumped agilely to where he stood, her vel
b made feetclinging to the rough, rocky stone
1T ia you, Madeleine Jennequin, is it not
e asked the little man in a piping falsetto yolo'
do not be frightened; it is only o matter {
s FORM
g TO Madeleine q lark cloud seemed to Ri
suddenly and biacken the blue sea. She b
came deadly pale as her first thoughts lie
g to her lover.
pierre! What shohld / knoWo o. Pierre
o answered the little man, opening his POI
folio and turning over some .papers. l
peat it only as a matter OF form. You a
as a witness at the trial of III. de Merrill
n You will only have to say a few words
show the sub-Iieutenant gave oil provocatlo
Bah! it ia nothing"
Is the man she hated-M. de Merville!-that
is was she who had been the cause Of q mar
death! And burrying her face IN her hand
1t as if to shut out some horrible sight, 81
burst into q passion of sobs.
we will teach you what to say. when. =
he come to Douai, said her companion.
shall not ca YOU
TX she overcome with grief. he shrugged
u shoulders, for he WAS used to scenes OF mise
II Of all kids. and left her,
u The old care. passing by some time Late
20 saw her as he lifted his face from his brevih1
1t was he who had baptized her, giving b
d. her premiere communion, and was her &C
ne fessor. and he made her tell him now t
S asaa 6 e. R eer gf 81 the a dsr lo ! BIT gfa con u 4,
a~fterward, by the artless way il which s
lie narrated her story, that she was innocent
ID any light conduct with H.. de Mervile, no &C
soIed ana comforted her. .
ly T have relations at Douai, nheDaid, "a
I will take you there myself, my poor chi
a / VIII pray for you till then, that you may
:. given strength to bear this trial.
it, Soothed by the old mans wordss Madeiei
returned home with a lighter heart. and
she prepared her grandparents frugal ST
per her face had regained much OF Its
IN renitya
nd When the pecheuse DE grenodes appeared
court. at n. de Mervills's trial, N hYr sim
tisler-girl's costume, hor pure, childish /
to excited great interest. and much astoni
ment was felt that she should have been
ID, prisoner's--who was renowned for his bo1?
evening. Men enyied him what, they c
it'll sidered his luck at having such a lovely I
tress-for how could they believe in her
nocence land women studied her to try
va COPY her air gaaiy that had such charm.
no She answered the questions put to
proudly and simply, but when she was as
7.tv what previous acquaintance she had had
elf. M. de MeryiIle, o hot flush came over
cheeks as she thought of the caresses he
md tried to force upon her, and people smiles
they saw har confuslons thinking II dene
The her guilt.
Her hands clutched q little cross-Pier
re- gift-round her neck as she thought how
Of lover had saved her from insult, and II
Of gathered on her long, black lashes.
It was clearly proved that the insult
her come from the young su~b-lieutenant,
after experts had been called in, swt
urn measured. etc, nothing. could be pogiti'
proved against NJ. de Merville, and he
acquitted. His friends ioeked round to
an graduate him, and many bold looks fell u
Madeleine as she came out of court,
GUS jokes levied at the Whlte-naIred priest
Qrv was waiting to TAX her home.
On. When she returned to her grandpar
- II = VII a cod fr rrnns,1y vra@Fn IN